Chicken and Turkey Buyer’s Guide

Here are some guidelines for getting the most out of your chicken and turkey purchases at the supermarket.

In an impressive statistic, it is reported that North Americans now consume nearly 100 pounds of poultry per capita annually. And with good reason: chicken and turkey—both white and dark meat—are good sources of protein, low in fat and calories, particularly sans skin and unbreaded. But simple succulence, economy and sheer versatility are the fundamental reasons why poultry is so well loved.

More Healthy Turkey Recipes

Chicken

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, arguably the most versatile cut of chicken, are very low in fat, only 1 to 2 grams of fat per serving. When preparing, trim any excess fat from the outer edge of the breast. Conveniently, one 4- to 5-ounce breast yields a perfect 3-ounce cooked portion when you remove the tender (see below). But don’t throw those tenders away—freeze them in an airtight container until you’ve gathered enough to make a meal.

Nature seems to have had the casual cook in mind when designing the chicken tender. The virtually fat-free strips of rib meat is typically found attached to the underside of chicken breasts. They can also be purchased separately. Four 1-ounce tenders will yield a 3-ounce cooked portion. Tenders are perfect for quick stir-fries, chicken satay or kid-friendly breaded “chicken fingers.”

Say yes to the dark side and choose chicken thighs. Boneless, skinless versions are great for sautés and diced up in soups, while bone-in thighs are delightful in slow-cooked braises and on the grill. Without its skin, thigh meat moves into “lean meat” territory; with a few easy snips you can remove any excess fat. The slightly higher fat content of dark meat is a plus, since it makes the meat more forgiving of overcooking. There’s also a little more iron and almost twice the zinc—not bad for a small increment in calories (177 calories and 6 grams fat for 3 ounces of thigh versus 138 calories and 3 grams fat for breast). If you want to serve one thigh per person, buy them at the butcher counter; prepackaged thighs vary dramatically in size. Ask for one 6-ounce boneless, skinless thigh per person. To trim them well, we like to use kitchen shears to snip the fat away from the meat. After trimming, you’ll have a perfect 4-ounce portion.

Roasting a whole chicken isn’t as hard as it sounds. Making it a regular Sunday ritual will not only provide you with a delicious supper, but healthful leftovers you can use to top lunchtime salads or fill soft-shell tacos. While store-bought rotisserie chicken is convenient and practical, each serving can have as much as 450 mg of sodium while the average home-roasted chicken has less than 100 mg. Even the unseasoned varieties have been marinated or seasoned with salty flavoring agents. People with hypertension should think twice before choosing store-bought. One 2-pound roasted chicken yields approximately 1 pound (4 cups) of meat.